Help, I've got itchy feet for a new bike but don't know what route to take.
Current bike: 2011 Stumpjumper FSR
Issues with current bike: I've done a few upgrades but I'm starting to feel the geo/frame isn't ideal - QR forks, non-tapered head tube, troublesome Elixir brakes.
Riding: mainly trail centers with trips to Wales, have done Snowdon Rangers too. Like to play on the small DH runs at Stile Cop also.
My thoughts are to remove the upgrades I've added (Reverb, Hope hoops, wider bars, shorter stem) and sell my standard bike as a whole. Then I quite fancy building my own up from a frame, adding the bits I already have and sourcing a few bits here and there.
Ideally I want something a bit burlier but that can still be pedaled all day. Transition Bandit looks really nice, the new Nukeproof Mega TR too - both a similar price. Yeti 575 looks lovely but maybe too expensive. I've just seen a new Blur LT frame discounted too.
Anyone experience of the above? Anything I've missed?
If I went off the shelf instead then an Evo version of the Stumpy looks ideal and gets great reviews, but then I don't really want another Spesh. Riding buddies have got Orange Five, Lapierre Zesty and a Canyon Nerve AM so I'd rather neither of them lot. Norco Sight gets great reviews but it doesn't really excite me.
The Bandit seems top of my list at the minute.